hunt.'
Raven put the call out for help. Tark and Kid Stealth didn't answer, but Tom Electric and Zig and Zag did. Sporting some body armor and my MP-93, I was sure the lot of us could have taken on the world and gone the distance. Tom ended up driving Raven's Rolls, with Iron Mike Morrissey in the navigator's seat. His partner, Tiger Jackson, rode in the back with Raven and me, starting sullen and getting more so every time I referred to his partner and him as Zig and Zag.
Raven agreed to the plan I laid out as we rode through the night. 'I concur, Wolf. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Morrissey will hold the top of the stairs while Tom secures the front door. You and I will deal with the club's Board of Directors.' Doc nodded solemnly as I jacked a round into the MP-9's chamber. 'And I'll let you do the talking.'
'Good.' I looked at the big black gillette across from me. 'Any questions?'
Zag nodded. 'This hunting club has lots of wheels. If things get ballistic, are we clear to spray up the place?'
I was set to nod yes, but Raven shook his head. 'I'm hoping we don't have to end up shooting. As Wolf has aptly pointed out, we only have confirmation of one member actually murdering anyone. We need to let the Directors know that their new prey is never in season here in Seattle.' He looked at me. 'Right, Wolf?'
I frowned, which brought a smile to Zag's face, then nodded. I agreed only because wanton murder wasn't really my style. I'd shoot Selene without a second
3I'd like to say I stuck with the MP-9 because it was an old friend, but the fact was, I really wanted a cannon. Unfortunately, given how I was feeling, a gun with only a few working parts was all I could handle. thought, but I didn't know who else in the club had been cap-bustin' on society's ciphers. Purging their membership would only bring heat down on us and it wouldn't hurt them at all. What would hurt, and what Valerie was doing from her haunt in the Matrix, was deducting a healthy 'consulting fee' from their club account- including the cost of burning and burying my suit.
Tom double-parked us, and Iron Mike covered the doorman. I winked at him as I went by. Wearing a black leather jacket, jeans, and combat boots, I wasn't really dressed for the club. The MP-9was stylish, which is why I gave the maitre'd a good look at it. 'I'm here to see the Board. Are they still here?'
He nodded and opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. I eased the gunmuzzle's pressure on his bow tie and he swallowed to make sure his throat still worked. 'You can't go in there. They're in executive session.'
'Always seen myself as executive material,' I barked at him. I stepped past and he tried to grab me. I heard a thump, then a sigh. I glanced back at Tiger and saw him tuck away a sap, then headed up the stairs. Tom Electric sat himself on the maitre'd's stool and pinned the man to the ground with an AK-97.
Zig and Zag took up positions at the top of the stairs while I led Raven deeper into the building. With a kick I splintered the lock on the board room door and boldly strode into the center of the room. I did remember the trap door and used the hall light spilling into the room to avoid its outline. All around me I saw hunched silhouettes leaning forward.
'Sorry to be interrupting, Brothers and Sisters. I never got to thank you for your hospitality before.' I sketched a careful bow, ending it abruptly when my rib began to ache. 'When I was invited to dinner I hardly expected to become the center of attention.'
The Grandmaster's sable unicorn kill became illuminated as he spoke. 'What do you want, Mr. Kies?' 'I'm wondering how I get a bloodlock off a chrome-dome like you.' I arched an eyebrow at him. 'If I off you, do I get a chair on your board and have your ugly mug perched behind me?'
Brother Bear took offense at my tone. 'You have no right to be here. Leave at once.'
I swung the MP-9 in his direction. The single shot I let off passed just over his head, between the wings of his chair, and exploded the bear's head. 'Damn, shooting high. That happens after you've had a hole blown in your chest.'
'Your attempt at humor is not amusing, Mr. Kies.' The Grandmaster sat back in his chair. 'I can understand your anger. Will fifty thousand nuyen show you we're sorry?'
'Fifty K is a nice sum for the first installment, but I'll give you a break.' I shrugged easily. 'One time deal: you give me the money and you stop the hunts.'
'Policies of this club are'not your concern.' The Grandmaster leaned forward. 'If you are threatening us with war, you will find yourself on the losing side.'
Raven came up on my right. 'Will we?'
The Grandmaster nodded slowly and the other silhouettes aped him in silence. 'We have the weapons and the money and the power to destroy you. You are nothing. No one will notice if you die. We offer to enrich you and give you your life. Do not press your luck.'
'Luck is not part of this equation.' Raven shook his head resolutely. He kept his voice low, but it still filled the room. 'You are huntsmen and pride yourselves on having mastered the most dangerous creatures on the planet. You study your quarry. You track it and you take it.' Raven's eyes pulsed with fire. 'This time, though, you have been stupid, and all the material things you have will not afford you victory.'
'Is that so?'
'It is. You hunt the SINless because they are insignificant. Within the shadows of this city, life is cheap and you know it. You think this makes you invincible because no one cares about your prey.' Doc's eyes sharpened. 'You would get more of a fight to protect the rights of rats to live in a tenement than you would to defend the lives of people like Albion.'
'You make my case for me.' The Grandmaster's head came up. 'Those people are nothing. They mean nothing. We know it, those ignoble beasts know it. Their lives are worthless.'
I saw where Raven was headed and his nod let me pick up the fight. 'You're right, their lives are worthless. That means we can hand a gun and fifty nuyen to any of them along with your picture. See, the only thing you don't have going for you is numbers. There are more of them than there are you, and even if your security is good enough to pick up sixty or seventy percent of their attacks, you'll still be maggot-munchies.'
I let out a chuckle. 'And, hey, when they learn you're going to be hunting them anyway, we won't even have to pay them. If we offer a prize, they'll pay us for a ticket in the martial lottery.'
The image of a bazooka-toting biped Bambi battalion shooting back at them did not thrill the membership in the least. 'Doc, do you think we can get an all-night printer to start turning out hunting permits on our way back across town?'
'We can use the phone in the Rolls to start things going.'
The Grandmaster sat back. 'If these hunts that you allege to be occurring-but which we have never admitted taking place-were to stop…'
'And a schedule of reparation payments were made to the survivors of these hunt victims,' Raven added.
'Quite. If this were to take place, then you would see no reason to take action?'
Raven nodded. 'A list of persons and amounts to be paid can be in your computer by tomorrow. If you agree to meet it, I would consider the matter closed.'
'Done.' Raven looked over at me. 'Is that satisfactory to you, Wolf?'
''Cept for one thing, yeah, very satisfactory.' I looked up at the Grandmaster. 'When you next see Sister Snake, tell her we still have a date.' I jiggled the MP-9. 'Tell her it's flak-vest optional.'
As we wandered back down the hallway and picked up Zig and Zag at the top of the stairs, I tried to figure out how I'd find Selene Reece. With her money and the connections the club afforded her, she could be hiding literally anywhere in the world. After today she'd know I was still alive and would dig her hidey-hole a little deeper.
And if that didn't make things tough enough, she'd know I was after her. Given her skills as a hunter, I had no doubt I'd be facing the most dangerous prey. Oddly enough, that did not concern me as much as I thought it would. The very fact that I could make a run at her meant she wasn't infallible.
Stepping into a warm rain as we left the club, I turned to Raven. 'I won't make the mistake she did. When I do her, I'll make sure she's dead.'
'I am certain that is what she intended to do with you, Wolf.' Raven nodded at the shadows near the Rolls. 'I don't believe she got that chance.'
Stealth opened the Rolls' boot and shoved a rifle-case into it. He slammed the lid down with his flesh and blood hand, then stepped up onto the sidewalk. He said nothing, a flesh and chrome monument.
